Former students in bid to preserve history of Hull Grammar School

A small group of former Hull schoolboys are working to prevent a significant part of the city’s social history from disappearing forever.

Five Hull Old Grammarians are trying to restore knowledge of the history of the Hull Grammar School by staging a series of exhibitions in the city – and at the same time reaching out to other people to help their cause. One of the group, Rob Milner, of Hedon, said: “We want to try to build up awareness of this gap in the story of local education.

“We felt it was worth our time and effort to increase the profile of Hull Grammar School and its history. A group of students from Tranby School have worked alongside us 'Old Boys' to prepare a detailed historical timeline of the school's history, from 1330 to the present day.”

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The exhibition is on view at Hull Minster until Sunday, June 2. It then moves on to Wilberforce House (from June 10) before being on display again at Hull History Centre next spring. Rob, who was a pupil at Hull Grammar from 1963 to 1970, said: “The exhibition at Wilberforce House, kindly sponsored by Pepperell's Solicitors of Hull, will run during the summer months, until mid-September.”

Last May, Rob wrote a letter to the Hull Daily Mail about the likelihood of the history of the Hull Grammar School being lost, unless action was taken to remind people of the school's importance as an element of the social background of Hull and East Yorkshire. He said: “After forming partnerships with several local organisations – Tranby School, Hull Minster, Hull Museums, the Carnegie Heritage Centre and the Hull History Centre – this small group of like-minded Old Grammarians established some common ground and mutual understanding with other interested parties.

“The standalone exhibitions will give members of the public the opportunity to learn more about Hull’s foremost local state grammar school.” Rob added: “In the longer term it is our ambition to secure a permanent space to house documents, artefacts and other memorabilia from the school, so that they are available to be viewed by future generations.”

Anyone wanting to know more about the plans or to get involved as a volunteer can email Rob Milner at milner52@milner52.karoo.co.uk or Mike Rymer at mikerymer13@hotmail.co.uk